BOSTON — As one of the most honest fighters in the entire NHL and a rare pugilist with the ability to also contribute on the score sheet, Bruins winger Shawn Thornton doesn’t have to do much more to improve his hockey cred.

If he wants to add to his street cred, however, he now has the perfect rap name.

Meet ’40 Stitch.’

That’s how many it took to seal up the cut above Thornton’s right eye after he went down and took Fernando Pisani’s skate blade to the face. After the early second-period collision, Thornton made a bee line for dressing room with a quick pit stop to chirp back at someone on the Chicago bench who inexplicably decided to yell a comment at the bleeding Bruins forward.

“Yeah something was said. Obviously I can’t swear when I talk to you guys,” recalled Thornton after the Bruins’ 3-0 win. “There was some stuff said that I am not happy about. I am going to find out who it was and I will deal with it in my own way.”

Thornton noted that referee Don Van Massenhoven was also angered by the talk coming from the Blackhawks bench. Unfortunately for Thornton, he wasn’t allowed to return to the game and avenge the trash talk because the doctors were worried about the cut re-opening. Nonetheless, he was on his feet after the game and hoping that he wouldn’t have to miss any time with another game coming up Thursday.

“I’m fine. I guess I was lucky,” he said. “It could’ve been a little bit lower and could’ve been on my eye. And no headache, no concussion, no nothing. I mean, it’s throbbing a little bit from getting a lot of stitches in there.”

Although his forehead looked like it could be opened with a zipper, Thornton said this wasn’t his most serious injury because he’s had high sticks land closer to his eye. If need be, he’ll actually wear a visor to protect the cut until it’s healed properly, although you have to figure the Bruins will proceed with caution now that there’s not much to play for and they need Thornton healthy for the playoffs.

Some time off from hockey would give Thornton a chance to polish up his lyrical stylings.

I was at the game yesterday, and as far as I could tell, the penalties were kind of weak, as similar calls could easily have been made against the blackhawks but weren’t and the ones that were called, while not obviously wrong, were definitely debatable. My friend who was with me (a hawks fan) felt a similar way. At least no stupid calls were made.

Also, Mr. Chirp was likely Mr. Kane. When he hopped on the ice right after Thorton went off, Chara rather violently shoved his back up against the boards and had some words and/or a fight challenge for him. Needless to say, since he is not in the hospital, he did not accept. The hawks fans I talked to would not be surprised if Kane said something stupid, and based on the Bruin’s response, it must have been very much so.

Don Van Massenhoven is a champ. He knows how hockey is suppose to be played. Every time the players had a scramble in front of the net and pushed a little afterwards, he just let them go. He lets the players play the game without giving too many unecessary penalties, so that when you do get a penalty, you know it had to have been pretty a obvious one.

Thornton truly is a stand up guy. Only Thornton would be gushing blood from his head, get up and skate to his own bench for treatment and want to stop for a little fight along the way due to chirping from the Hawk’s bench.

Its a shame the Hawks are in the other conference and may not even make into the play offs, much less both teams making it all the way to the cup championship which is the only way for these two teams to meet again this year.

You always hear commentators talking about how much chirping comes from the Hawks bench. You’ve gotta love that coming from a team currently ranked 23rd in the league with 28 fighting majors for the season. Atta way to back it up you poofs.

Reading an article on NHL about Campbell, and they quote Thorny as “Scott Thornton”. Guy has a Cup ring and the best one-liners in hockey, and he still isn’t known.

On another note, I hope Thornton finds out who it was… 20 bucks says it was Bryan Bickell. Guy is a duster, and he’s just bitter because he didn’t get a Cup ring last year because they ran out. Wahhh waah waaah